There were ballet and Bollywood on the ramp on day four of the WIFW

The Entertainment of the Day: Suneet Varma’s show. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is an unlikely theme for an Indian designer to interpret on the ramp, but after a good run at the Couture Week, comeback man Suneet Varma seemed in the mood for some more adventure. At the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), the clothes — an elaborate affair in lace and sequins, satin and organza — had nothing pret about them, but the show itself was worth the hour-long wait. While two huge cutouts of swans flanked the ramp, the mood was set by well-known ballet dancer Fernando Aguilera and his team, whose power-packed performance made the interludes between each set of ensembles, worth watching out for. Even show-stopper Amrita Rao faded in comparison. Sheer entertainment.

The Kitsch Corner: Nida Mahmood is fast turning into the new kitsch queen. Her spring-summer line was inspired by Bollywood of the Seventies and the Eighties. Models strutted around in sari pants and colourful pop-art sneakers, even as dialogue from Sholay and Gambler played in the background. The take on street art had everything from poster art to motifs like the lotus on jackets, helmets and handbags. Indophile William Dalrymple seemed mighty pleased, while restaurateur AD Singh showed his solidarity by wearing a jacket from the collection.

The Guy Who Caught the monsieur’s eye: Rahul Mishra. A Mumbai boy who debuted at the WIFW, Mishra is going around with a broad grin on his face. His collection of reversible ensembles has caught the fancy of none other than Didier Grumbach of the French fashion federation. “He dropped in at my stall after my show and told me how my collection is different from the rest and about the pitfalls that a new designer like me has to look out for. Now every time he is in the stalls he makes it a point to drop by and say hello,” he beams.

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